Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-25
POINTERS ON POKER
Mr Hummer Learns Some of the Niceties
eff tn. Game, and a. Hollywood Learns
life

Mr Hummer Learns Some of the Nice;ies
eff tn. Game, and a. Hollywood Learns
/ Life
Drift.
"WeN, l don't know" answered Mr.
Hummer, as he took seat at the table
with his daughters young man, 81 can't
say IS I'm much of card player now
sdays, but when I was young man was
locked upon as about as good st sll
games, indoors and out, IS any one that
used to train in our crowd, though don't
say it TO boast.
"Of course, I've forgotten most all OF
it now, and don't suppose 1 can tell one
card from another, but there wss time
1 could play almost any game with card
you could name, casino, forty lights,
| low, high, Jack, eCcher. Why, when
was out in company at party where they
had card-playin' they all used to come to
| NE TO decide any close questions, just as
| quick as they'd go TO book, and when |
give 'em q. decision twas just about allus
right, now, tell you.
ION, yes; but that was good many
years ago, as l say, and [ expect I'll dis
| play nay ignorance tryin' TO play with
you, but while mother and Liz is enter
taining the company in the psrlor' l
guess l can play enough TO make it en-
teinin' till your girl gets back. You
needn't blush my boy; young fellows has
| b en- courtin' ever since the days Of our
Observation-Disclosures, and when an honorable
| yourg man comes right up to the housein
q manly sort Of e way, and boldly asks
the privilege of shown himself off before
my daughter, l ast say Amen, SO let it
be, ana there amt much l won't do to
make it pleasant for MIN; no, sir.
"But about these cards. What game
d we better plEy?"
"Well, poker is the popular thing just
now" said the young man hesitatiDgly.
"P0ker, POKER" said the old man,
"why don't just remember that name,
but if you'u sort of post NE up little On
il l guess cSn catch onto it in few
| games"
The young man explained the leading
features in few hands, and then the old
gentleman announced himself as ready TO
commence.
"It is usual to use little money in the
play TO make it Interestingly" ventured
the young man, "but perhaps we can get
along without it."
"Not biz OF it, sir; not bit Of it,"
answered Mr.. Hummer, "when I'm dom
the entertsinin' want TO do it up right
every time, # it does take little money.
No, sir, Wen play the game Just as it's
written" and Mr.. Hummer Strengthened
out one leg SO that he could get into his
trousers pocket CONVENIENTLY, and pro-
duced handful Of silver.
CAL right" laughed the young man,
"We'n cut for deal. Low desls-I get it.
Now you put in % cents for what is
called the ante, and % more if you want
to draw cards, and do the same. Now
We bet"
Mr. Hummer lost 81 on the first hsn6,
won the young mans ante on the next,
lost So On the next, won another ante,
then lost 81, with q scared expression,
when the young man suddenly raised him
from 81 to SO; and then it was the old
mans turn TO deal.
The young man took two cards and Mr..
Hummer needed three. The young man
bet 81. Mr. Hummer hesitated, but saw
him half dollar better.
Tie young man calmly made it S..
Mr. Hummer glanced st him inquir-
inglY, and seemed somewhat bewildered,
but reached into his breast pocket for his
fist wallet, and went SIS better.
The young man laughed in an off-hand
ard plying sort CT way, ald producing
little bank book he lEiG down SIS, $40,
$50, $50, $40, $50, $50. He Was about
20 put out the last flyer in the book,
when he suddenly happened to think OF
his laur dry and RETAINED.
Mr.. Hummer looked on aghsst, and the
Young man with smile put forth his
hand to draw in the money, when the old
ge rtlemsn calmly laid down two 500
bills and S. gold piece, and remarked
quietly, as he displayed three aces and q
brace of kings: "I guess I have to issue
a call"
Erastus turned pale and quivered per-
epjibly as he exhibited his hand, for all
tn At that Dung man possessed was hec-
tic flush.
Just then the ladies came back snd Mr..
Hummer excused himself, IS was his
wont, and slipped quietly out into the hall
| and up to bed.
Mr.. Artemss Hollywood did not re-
main so long as usual that night; his
heart WAS too full, ard be kept dividing
$50 by wages at 81 so and getting quo
t eut in weeks, and it Yves very seemly
hour when he bade Miss Hummer good
evening, picked up his hat and gloves and
| hurried out into the night.
Sometli prevented one OF his fingers
from finding its usual resting place in his
glove, and when he had climbed up to
his room, he investigated.
Rumpled up into little wsd were three
$40 bills and SIS wrapped in the back OF
an old envelope, on which was written IN
an uumistakaole hand:
Dear BoY-I don't play for keeps now
adays; but when was q young man, old
Pete Sharply taught me little about the
game.
It's just about the same old game.
Pete had that same habit Of bluffing.
He worked it on me once.
Come up any time. Pm mum. q
leave little margin for you to write your
own moral.) Yrs, 81. HUMMER.
A Sensitive Man.
Arkansaw Traveller.